Emma sat cross-legged on the couch, scrolling through her phone, when Hailey burst into the room, her face splotched and her eyes rimmed with red. Emma straightened in her seat, about to ask what was wrong, when Bear barked at the back door. She rose, stuffed her phone in her pocket, and slid open the back door.

Bear barreled into the room and made a beeline for Hailey. He leaped up, placing his shaggy paws on Hailey’s chest, smearing her cream sweater with streaks of mud.

“Get off of me, you stupid dog! All you ever do is make a mess. I don’t know why we keep you around. I hate you!”

Emma stood, frozen in shock. This was not the big sister she knew. Hailey loved Bear, and never raised her voice. Bear dropped to the ground, his head hanging low. He moved toward the back door and flopped on the ground.

Emma took a tentative step forward. “Hailey? Are you OK?”

Hailey whirled toward Emma. “No, I’m not OK. Look at me. Bear ruined a perfectly good sweater. But what would you know about it? Not with the trash you wear.”

Emma blinked and glanced down at her outfit. She wore a faded graphic T-shirt and leggings. “It’s Saturday. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Of course you’re not. Why would you? It’s not like you’d have a date or anything. What guy would want to date you?”

Emma sucked in a breath and swallowed against the lump in her throat. “Why are you being so mean?”

Hailey’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not my fault you don’t have a boyfriend. Don’t try to turn it around on me.” She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. Hailey had never treated her like that. She pulled a rag from under the sink, dampened it, and made her way to Bear. She wiped down each of his paws, then wiped up the trail of footprints leading to and from the kitchen. Normally, she would have wiped his paws when he first came in, but the sight of Hailey’s face had distracted her. As she cleaned up the mud, her hurt turned to anger. She’d done nothing wrong, yet Hailey had been cruel to her. She pulled her phone from her pocket and plopped down on the floor next to Bear, stroking his soft fur. When swiped open her phone, her screen lit with the last thing she’d been looking at. Next week’s concert.

“Look at this, Bear. I was so excited. Our favorite cover band is playing downtown next weekend. I just bought two tickets. I was going to ask Hailey to go with me, but I think I’ll see if one of my friends wants to go instead. No way do I want to go anywhere with Hailey.”

Bear lifted his head, his brown eyes mournful. Emma squeezed him around the neck. “I know, big guy. She was mean to you, too. Well, I won’t be. We can stick together.”

Bear’s tail thumped on the ground, and Emma’s mood lifted a little. Despite that, her anger at her sister grew until it was all she could focus on.

Mom entered the kitchen, laden with grocery bags. Emma hopped up and took the bags to the counter while Mom returned to the car for the rest. When Mom returned, she and Emma unloaded the groceries together.

“Thanks for your help. You’re quiet today. Is everything OK?”

“It was until Hailey came in and started yelling at Bear and saying all kinds of mean things to both of us.”

Mom’s brow crinkled. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

“That can only mean one thing.” Mom hurried out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Emma turned back to Bear. “What was that all about? Mom goes running off to Hailey to comfort her when we’re the ones she was cruel to. I don’t get it.”

As the afternoon went on, Emma turned to other things, but the underlying anger remained. She didn’t deserve to be treated the way Hailey treated her. When Hailey came downstairs again, she’d changed out of her muddy sweater and her face was no longer swollen, but her eyes still held sadness. She approached Emma.

“I’m sorry for how I treated you. I found out today I didn’t get the lead in the school musical. It wasn’t right for me to take it out on you. I had my heart set on it, and I’m still really upset about it, but I’m sorry.”

Emma stiffened. Did Hailey think she could waltz in here with some kind of lame apology and it was all going to be OK?

At that moment, Bear lumbered into the room. Hailey turned toward him. “I’m sorry to you, too, Bear.”

Bear lifted his head and bounded over to Hailey. She bent down and hugged him. His tail wagged furiously and he licked Hailey’s cheek.

Emma sat, watching the interaction. Hailey had been just as unkind to Bear. But there he was, accepting Hailey’s apology, kissing her, and loving her. Something inside Emma melted at the scene. She rose and approached Hailey, who straightened before her.

“I’m sorry, Em. I really didn’t mean what I said.”

Emma reached out and wrapped Hailey in a hug. “I know. I’m sorry you didn’t get the part. Do you want to see a concert next weekend?”

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Dear God, sometimes we can learn a lot from dogs. Help us be as forgiving as our furry friends. And when someone wrongs us, help us see things from their perspective. Hurting people hurt people. Help us be the kind of people who build others up, not the kind who tear others down. Thank you for giving us simple reminders in our lives for how we can be more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.